Evaluation of the Usability and User Experience of the Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional Mobile Application in Indonesia

Article information

Healthc Inform Res. 2024;30(4):324-332

Publication date (electronic) : 2024 October 31

doi : https://doi.org/10.4258/hir.2024.30.4.324

Savira Putri Handasari, Respati Wulandari, Haikal

Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Science, Universitas Dian Nuswantoro, Semarang, Indonesia

Corresponding Author: Respati Wulandari, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Science, Universitas Dian Nuswantoro, Jalan Pamularsih Buntu no 18, Semarang 50141, Indonesia. Tel: +628179503121, E-mail: respati.wulandari@dsn.dinus.ac.id (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5098-3792)

Received 2024 March 22; Revised 2024 July 28; Accepted 2024 September 18.

Abstract

I. Introduction

The National Social Security System in Indonesia is a government initiative designed to ensure protection and social welfare for all Indonesian citizens. This system is managed by the Social Security Organizing Agency (SSOA). One of its programs, the Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional (JKN), operates on the principles of social insurance and equity. The JKN offers a range of health services to its participants, including preventive, promotive, curative, and rehabilitative care, as well as access to medications and disposable medical supplies. The program has seen a substantial increase in participation, with the total number of JKN participants reaching 257,375,800 as of June 30, 2023 [1].

The JKN mobile application was launched in November 2017 as part of SSOA Health’s digital transformation of administrative activities. It allows users to access its services anytime and anywhere. The application is available on both the Google Play Store and the Apple Store. It is recommended that users access the application on Android phones with version 4.0 or higher, as well as on iOS 10. The JKN mobile application features several menus: (1) Participant menu, which includes participant features, participant card features, participant data modification feature, and participant registration feature; (2) Billing menu, which comprises a premium feature, payment feature, and virtual account check feature; (3) Service menu, which offers a service history feature, service registration feature, and screening feature; (4) General menu, which provides a JKN information feature, location feature, complaint submission feature, and settings feature. The user interface of the JKN application is illustrated in Figure 1. In early 2022, the application was enhanced with a new feature that supports online queues. This includes the capability for sending new patient identities and facilitating check-ins when patients arrive at healthcare facilities. The feature supports a continuum of care from primary healthcare facilities to advanced referral healthcare facilities, including internal referrals and follow-up appointments [2]. Over the past 2 years, the number of JKN mobile application users in Indonesia has seen a substantial increase, growing from 432,000 users in 2020 to 16,346,826 users in 2022 [3]. This surge in users raises an important question: Does the application meet the acceptance criteria of its users?

Figure 1

User interface display of the National Health Insurance (Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional or JKN) mobile application.

Usability is a quality metric used to evaluate how user-friendly an application is. It encompasses several components: learnability, efficiency, memorability, errors, and satisfaction [4]. Evaluating an application’s usability is deemed essential for the successful development of the application [5]. A variety of tools are available for measuring the usability of mobile health applications, including usability evaluation scales, application usability measurement scales, and application usability ease levels, which are among the most rigorously validated tools [6]. The review results show that 40% of studies assessing mobile health applications rely on questionnaires to evaluate usability [7]. The effectiveness of a mobile application largely depends on its usability. This implies that the application should be easy to use, efficient, and satisfying [8]. Evidence from a review study on mobile health applications highlights that the most commonly assessed usability aspects are efficiency (70%), satisfaction (66%), and effectiveness (58%) [9].

User experience evaluation is recognized as a standard because it extends usability evaluation [10]. According to the ISO 9241-210 standard, user experience is defined as an individual’s perceptions and responses to the use of a product or service system. It reflects the quality of a product based on subjective perceptions. Additionally, the concept of user experience includes considerations of the time before the product is actually used [11]. User experience relates to two main aspects: (1) the quality of user interaction with the product in terms of achieving goals, which includes efficiency, learnability, dependency, and adaptability; and (2) the overall subjective impression of the product, encompassing stimulation, attractiveness, and novelty [12]. The findings from usability and/or user experience evaluations can provide valuable insights for the development of mobile health applications [10,13–15].

II. Methods

3. Instrument and Variables

This study used the System Usability Scale (SUS) to measure usability. This instrument is structured as a questionnaire, adapted from Bangor et al. [16]. The SUS questionnaire includes 10 statements designed to assess the usability of the JKN mobile application (Table 1). Each statement on the SUS features a 5-point scale ranging from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree.” The statements in the SUS are composed of five negative and five positive statements, which are presented in an alternating sequence.

Table 1

System Usability Scale statement items [19]

The instrument used to measure user experience is the User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ), which has been translated into Indonesian following Santoso et al.’s work [17]. This questionnaire comprises 26 statements, organized into six parameters as shown in Table 2. The dependent variables in this study are these six user experience parameters: attractiveness, perspicuity, efficiency, dependability, stimulation, and novelty [18]. Each item in the UEQ is represented by a pair of opposing words, and participants rate them on a 7-point scale. For instance, the efficiency of the application is measured on a scale from “fast” to “slow.” The instrument used to assess respondent characteristics is a closed-ended questionnaire. These characteristics include sex, age, education, marital status, occupation, JKN membership, domicile, and income.

Table 2

Grouping of parameters from the user experience variable

4. Data Analysis

All respondents’ answers were individually reviewed. This process included cleaning, which involves identifying outlier data, removing data that do not meet the inclusion criteria, checking for possible data duplication, and examining other data errors. The analysis of the SUS questionnaire yields an average usability score for the JKN mobile application. The SUS score is calculated as follows [8]:

• Subtract 1 from the respondent’s answer score for positive statement items (odd-numbered statements). For example, if a respondent scores a 4 on statement number 3, the adjusted score is 4 – 1 = 3.

• For negative statement items (even-numbered statements), subtract 1 from the respondent’s answer score, denoted as X. For instance, if a respondent scores a 2 on statement number 4, the adjusted score is 2 – 1 = 1.

• Sum these adjusted scores and multiply the total by 2.5.

• The final result, which ranges from 0 to 100, represents the average usability score of the JKN mobile application.

The average usability score was interpreted using the SUS score, which ranges from 0 to 100, to determine its classification in terms of adjective ratings, grade scale, and acceptability ranges (Figure 2). A SUS score of 50 is considered poor, a score above 70 is considered good, and a score of 85 or higher is considered excellent [8,16]. According to Table 3, the average usability score is interpreted within specific percentile ranges [19].

Figure 2

Users’ System Usability Scale score [18].

Table 3

Curved grading scale for the SUS [21]

The UEQ analysis, available on the official website (https://www.ueq-online.org/), was utilized to assess the user experience of the JKN mobile application. This analysis produces average scores for each user experience parameter. These scores are interpreted as follows: an average score of −0.8 signifies a negative evaluation, a score ranging from 0 to +8 denotes a neutral evaluation, and any score above +8 reflects a positive evaluation. Scores between 1 and 2 are indicative of a very good evaluation. Additionally, the UEQ analysis generates benchmark graphics that compare the JKN mobile application with other applications.

III. Results

1. Respondent Characteristics

A total of 370 individuals completed the questionnaire. Table 4 summarizes the frequency distribution of respondent characteristics. The majority of respondents were women (75.9%), under 25 years old (88.1%), and possessed a low to medium level of education. Most were unmarried or single (91.9%), unemployed (79.5%), and had no income (64.3%). Additionally, the majority of respondents were JKN participants (85.4%) and lived on the island of Java (83.5%).

Table 4

Respondent characteristics (n = 370)

2. Usability

The SUS scores collected from 370 respondents totaled 2,254, with an average of 60.9 and a standard deviation of 13.47. Table 5 presents the frequency distribution of SUS evaluation results, categorized by acceptability rating, grade, and adjective rating. The analysis of the JKN mobile application revealed that the responses were predominantly categorized as marginal in the acceptability rating (52.4%), received a grade of “F” (43%), and were described by the adjective rating as “good” (52%).

Table 5

Usability score of the JKN mobile application (n = 370)

The interpretation of the SUS score, according to Bangor et al., indicated that the JKN mobile application was rated as “good” in the adjective rating. However, it received a grade of “F” and an acceptability rating of “marginal.” Based on the Lewis scale, this average score fell within the 34th percentile, suggesting substantial room for improvement in the application’s usability.

3. User Experience

Table 6 presents the results of the JKN application’s user experience evaluation. It illustrates the user experience in terms of attractiveness, perspicuity, efficiency, dependability, stimulation, and novelty. Overall, the user experience parameters indicated positive values, with an average score greater than 0.8. However, novelty received the lowest average score, at 0.58.

Table 6

Evaluation of the user experience of the JKN mobile application and benchmark categories (n = 370)

The evaluation results for the user experience of the m-JKN application indicate that, in terms of attractiveness, its average score was 1.09, placing it in the “below average” benchmark category (25%–50% scale). The mean score of 1.09, with a standard deviation of 1.09 at a 95% confidence level (Z-score of 1.96) and a sample size of 370, resulted in a confidence interval (CI) of 0.111, ranging from 0.976 to 1.197. This CI range remained within the “below average” category, with the upper limit slightly exceeding the category’s upper boundary. Detailed calculations can be found in Table 6. The standard deviation is linked to the CI value and the sample size. Specifically, a larger sample size results in a narrower CI, which increases estimation accuracy and yields more reliable results. The standard deviation values for all parameters in the user experience evaluation were reasonably small and within acceptable limits, as the CI values fell within the benchmark category range. Therefore, it can be concluded that the user experience of the JKN mobile application, across parameters such as attractiveness, perspicuity, dependability, stimulation, and novelty, was categorized as “below average” (25%–50% scale). However, the efficiency parameter ranked in the “above average” benchmark category (50%–75% scale), suggesting that the application performs efficiently (Figure 3). The benchmark used in the UEQ compared the JKN application with other applications assessed using the UEQ, including business software, web pages, web shops, and social networks.

Figure 3

National Health Insurance (Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional or JKN) mobile application benchmark.

IV. Discussion

This study evaluates the use of the JKN mobile application among a sample of 370 respondents from across Indonesia. The evaluation, conducted using the SUS, provides insights into user perceptions regarding satisfaction, efficiency, learnability, errors, and memorability [6]. The average SUS score obtained was 60.9, with a standard deviation of 13.47. According to Bangor’s interpretation [16], this average score would be categorized as “good” (194 individuals; 52%). However, the acceptance of the JKN mobile application was categorized as “low marginal.” This assessment is based on the acceptability rating, where the majority of responses (194 individuals; 52%) fell into the “low marginal” category. “Low marginal” is defined as a level between “not acceptable” and “high marginal,” indicating a status that is considerably below “acceptable.” This aligns with the SUS score being in the lowest grade, which is grade F, with most respondents’ assessments (159 individuals; 43%) falling into this category. These findings suggest that while the JKN mobile application was considered “good” by a majority of users, there is a substantial need for improvements in its overall usability.

Several previous studies on the evaluation of the JKN mobile application have reported findings similar to those of this research. A study on the JKN mobile application [20] reported an initial average SUS score of 59 and recommended further development of the application. Likewise, Lubis et al. [21] highlighted both strengths and weaknesses of the JKN mobile application, recommending enhancements to improve the system. A study involving local respondents in Malang, Indonesia, found low scores in control, learnability, and efficiency aspects of the JKN mobile application [22]. When compared to other mobile health applications, the JKN mobile application has a lower average SUS score. In contrast, other mobile health applications such as Oncodoc [23], JAGA SEHAT app [24], “Pedulilindungi” app [25], and TOGETHERCare app [26] all boast higher average SUS scores.

User feedback on the JKN mobile application has been positive across nearly all dimensions—including attractiveness, perspicuity, efficiency, dependability, stimulation, and novelty—with mean scores above 0.8. User satisfaction with an application hinges on its attractiveness, pragmatic qualities (such as perspicuity, efficiency, and dependability), and hedonic qualities (including stimulation and originality) [27]. Hedonic qualities, which include features of the application, visual resources, and the ease of monitoring treatment, positively influence the user experience of mobile health applications [28]. Conversely, factors such as comfort, responsiveness, and availability are positive predictors of user experience [29]. However, perceptions of user experience regarding mobile applications encompass all aspects of interaction with the product, including feelings, thoughts, and perceptions related to the use of the product [30].

The pragmatic quality of this study was positively assessed by the respondents. The majority of users of the JKN mobile application, approximately 85.4%, are members of the SSOA health insurance program. The application’s efficiency, dependability, and stimulation were also favorably evaluated by the respondents, indicating that the application is practical, fast, secure, and beneficial. Participants from the SSOA reported significant benefits from using the JKN mobile application. Before the application was available, participants had to physically visit local SSOA offices to handle tasks such as registration, adding new members, and filing service-related complaints. With the introduction of new features, SSOA participants now enjoy greater convenience in managing healthcare services, including registration (queueing), accessing facility location information, and consulting with doctors. This has resulted in time and cost savings for the participants, which is consistent with previous research findings that highlight the significant influence of time and money on user experience [28].

The perspicuity of the JKN mobile application was rated highly by respondents, who found it simple, straightforward, and user-friendly. This can be attributed to the demographic characteristics of the respondents: the majority (60.8%) had completed education up to senior high school, and a significant portion (88.1%) were aged 24 or younger, suggesting that they were predominantly students or college students. These respondents are typically part of Generation Z, a group known for its openness to new developments, including advancements in information technology. They are generally well-versed in computer use, adept at navigating social media, and consequently, comfortable with mobile applications. This familiarity likely influenced their positive assessment of the application, a finding that aligns with previous research conducted on the Oncodoc application [23].

The hedonic quality, particularly the novelty aspect, received the lowest average score (0.580 ± 1.09) from respondents when compared to attractiveness, efficiency, perspicuity, dependability, and stimulation. This lower score may be due to Generation Z’s reduced perception of novelty, as their frequent use of social media and applications could lead them to perceive the experience of using a new application as commonplace. Consequently, they may hold higher standards for what constitutes a truly novel and distinct application. Despite this, the benchmark for the novelty aspect of the JKN mobile application still fell within the “below average” range.

Based on the evaluation results for usability and user experience, it can be concluded that the JKN mobile application exhibits a marginally low level of usability. While the user experience, in terms of attractiveness, perspicuity, efficiency, dependability, stimulation, and novelty, receives positive ratings, the overall user experience evaluation of the JKN mobile application remains in the “below-average” category. This indicates a need for improvements in both usability and all user experience parameters of the JKN mobile application.

The limitations of this study include the use of an online survey method, which may introduce selection bias in sample selection. Despite validation efforts to ensure that only users of the JKN mobile application were eligible to complete the questionnaire, it was not possible to completely eliminate respondent answer bias. Conducting further research on a larger scale would enhance the reliability and generalizability of the findings and positively influence improvements in the adoption and user satisfaction of the JKN mobile application.

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